G Code

[Clive66]

I have been looking at GCode/Lathecode and would like to know if this is compatible with the H5 controller or if it might be added at a later date? Thanks

[kachurovskiy]

Hi @Clive66, we've lost the ability to send GCode over serial in H5 as there's some confusion between screen serial and USB serial when running.

https://github.com/kachurovskiy/nanoels/blob/main/h5/h5.ino#L1501-L1505

For some reason, Nextion commands also go into USB output when it's connected and GCode input is not being noticed by the GCode task.

https://github.com/kachurovskiy/nanoels/blob/main/h5/h5.ino#L1187

Either we solve this problem or move on to control ESP32 via WiFi web socket.

[duebelpapst]

Oha, I'll have to switch back to H4 if I have to use Gcode.
Or is it possible to store the gcode in the H5 and run it from there?
As H4 could do?
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the integration in H5.

[duebelpapst]

Maybe it is possible to send the gcode to the H5 if you only supply the H5 with power via the USB-C port.
This keeps the display switched off.
I will try it.

[AlanMerry]

Just wondering if Maxim has arrived at a solutiin to this issue yet ?

[kachurovskiy]

@AlanMerry no, hopefully later this year.

[duebelpapst]

Unfortunately it didn't work. I had to switch back to the H4, luckily I haven't sold the H4 yet. I will keep it until gcode works with the H5.

[AlanMerry]

I will prefix this comment with a disclaimer "I am not a programmer"!

I am wondering if this information on the Nextion App help could provide a solution?

Advanced. Address mode is an advanced technique prepending the serial instruction with two bytes for the address. Two byte address is to be sent in little endian order, ie: 2556 is sent 0xFC 0x09. By default, the Nextion address is 0 and does not require two byte prefixing. When the two byte addressing is used, Nextion will only respond to the command if its address matches the two byte prefix, or the transmitted address is 65535 broadcast. Setting addr will persist and be the new power on default until set again. See 6.20 for the addr System Variable.
Address Mode allows for up to 2560 individual addresses (256 to 2815) and broadcasting to all using address prefixing of 65535. When in Address Mode, all commands sent serially must be prefixed by their two byte address or via the broadcast address. The Nextion can indeed be operated without Address Mode in its traditional manner. Using addr=0 in your project’s Program.s tab will ensure the Nextion starts with Address Mode turned off.

// Nextion 3 byte termination as per NIS 1.1
uint8_t ndt[3]= {255,255,255};

// Turn Address Mode on and set Address to 2556
Serial.print("addr=2556");
Serial.write(ndt,3);

// ref t0 on the Nextion with address 2556 0x09FC
// Address is sent in little endian order of lowest first
Serial.write(0xFC);
Serial.write(0x09);
Serial.print("ref t0");
Serial.write(ndt,3);

// turn off Address Mode for all and set Address to 0 using broadcast 65535
Serial.write(0xFF);
Serial.write(0xFF);
Serial.print("addr=0");
Serial.write(ndt,3);

Maybe using the nextion address would allow separation of the two serial streams.

[demsarmatjaz]

Hi AlanMerry

I'm not a programmer either :-) but I think this would only be a solution for addressing and sending data to multiple screens. In this case, the problem is that the ESP32 sends data to the Nextion even while communicating with a computer connected to the ESP's USB port, and this data interferes with that on the USB port.

Even a serial port expander wouldn't help us here, because the traffic to it would still be visible on the USB port. I think Maxim is thinking in the right direction when he mentions connecting a computer to the ESP32 via WiFi or Bluetooth, although I am an advocate of cable connections for such devices.

If we still wanted to communicate with the ESP32 via the USB port, in my opinion the solution would be to change the code to completely disable the conversation between the ESP32 and Nextion during communication with the computer via USB.

Another solution would be to connect the Nextion to a separate serial port, say SW serial, for which we would of course need 2 free GPIO pins, which are no longer available in this configuration. I personally would sacrifice the gpio pins for XYZ scales and use them for something else, say sw serial for Nextion, communication with VFD for lathe spindle motor and so on.
I think that corectly dimensioned closed loop motors are reliable enough to provide and read accurate position.

As I say, I have a lot of ideas, but unfortunately I am not a programmer, I only know a little about programming, just enough to be able to make some home automation control.
Regards, Matjaz D.